On Thursday morning, Gan Tamar was full of energy and excitement as we returned to Gan Teva (Bush/Grass Kinder) after the long weekend. The bus ride to Elsternwick Nature Reserve was lively, filled with chatter and anticipation for the day ahead.

Eager to explore a new area of the reserve, we began with morning tea before diving straight into play. One of the first things the children noticed was that the stream bank had dried up. Their curiosity sparked thoughtful observations:

Zeke: “Maybe the sun dried it up.”
Tyler: “Maybe it’s because it didn’t rain.”

As this was our fourth visit, the children were confident and familiar with the rules and expectations. They demonstrated a strong sense of place, recalling features from previous visits while also noticing changes in their environment.

This week, many children challenged themselves in new ways, taking increasing risks and showing great persistence. Some experimented with different strategies to climb trees, using strong branches as footholds or asking friends for support. Others carefully navigated rocky areas, thinking flexibly about where to place their hands and feet to get up or down safely. Their problem-solving and growing confidence were wonderful to witness.

We were also greeted by a couple of curious visitors, ducks who waddled quite close! The children were reminded not to feed them, reinforcing our respect for wildlife.

Liam: “Look! It’s Waa (crow in Boon Wurrung) in the sky… there are so many Waas!”

Fittingly, the visit also marked the International Day of Play, a global celebration recognising every child’s right to play. Our time at Bush Kinder couldn’t have been a more joyful or meaningful way to honour this, as the children explored, took risks, collaborated, and connected deeply with nature through play.

Lisa Lu, ELC Teacher